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Love Equations #2
The Animosity Equation
Have you ever loathed a person so intensely the sight of them made you contemplate homicide?
First day of college, everyone is settling into their rooms, and in walks Jeff Woods—the blond bastard. He's arrogant and smart and an elite swimmer and worst of all everyone loves him. Only he's insufferable and flirty, and a sex god. He pushes every button I never knew I had, all with an air of indifference, like he doesn't know the affect it has on me.
Did I mention he's the hottest guy I've ever laid eyes on?
I'm just some closeted red-neck from the south who's more comfortable on a horse and in a pair of boots than trying to figure out this Ivy League stuff.
There's no way a guy like him would ever look at me twice.
Hate is the only equation.
The Animosity Equation is a standalone enemies to lovers, roommates, forced proximity, wild ride of teasing, lust, and so much more.
First day of college, everyone is settling into their rooms, and in walks Jeff Woods—the blond bastard. He's arrogant and smart and an elite swimmer and worst of all everyone loves him. Only he's insufferable and flirty, and a sex god. He pushes every button I never knew I had, all with an air of indifference, like he doesn't know the affect it has on me.
Did I mention he's the hottest guy I've ever laid eyes on?
I'm just some closeted red-neck from the south who's more comfortable on a horse and in a pair of boots than trying to figure out this Ivy League stuff.
There's no way a guy like him would ever look at me twice.
Hate is the only equation.
The Animosity Equation is a standalone enemies to lovers, roommates, forced proximity, wild ride of teasing, lust, and so much more.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2022
246 people are currently reading
612 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Gray
59 books1,273 followersWhen not staying up all night writing, J.R. Gray can be found at the gym where it's half assumed he is a permanent resident to fulfill his self-inflicted masochism. A dominant and a pilot, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. He frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns and conversations, to jot down notes or plot bunnies. Commas are the bane of his existence even though it's been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder. If Gray wasn't writing…well, that's not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave, insanity or both. The idea of haunting has always appealed to him. J.R. Gray is genderqueer and prefers he/him pronouns.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
June 24, 2022
This was...not good. Nothing happened. It was a cliche retelling of a story we've all read a million times before. The hate between Jeff and Mason felt forced and didn't make any sense. Every word that came out of their mouths contradicted what they had just been thinking. Mason had no redeeming qualities. Jeff had a sad backstory but it never made me feel anything. I never got the impression that the author cared about the characters or their story, which made it impossible for me to care. I liked seeing Harden and Vance again and Mason's grandma and cousin were funny, but cameos and fun side characters could not save this book for me. There are times when I truly wish my anal retentiveness would take a smoke break and allow me to call it quits on a book. This one would have looked fabulous on a DNF shelf.
May 18, 2022
I absolutely loved The Friendship Equation by J.R. Gray and was eagerly awaiting book 2 in the series.
The Animosity Equation is Jeff and Mason's story (remember Jeff from book 1? Yep, it's him!) I didn't think too much of Jeff in The Friendship Equation, such a flashy, unlikeable dude but we find out about lots more about his back story here and awwww, if I didn't start to mellow and change my view on him completely.
Mason is such a cutie, a 'red neck' cowboy from a ranch in Texas, totally in the closet and doing his darndest to stay there! But he reckoned without his totally fine, totally irresistable, in your face, mouthy roommate.
This is a hot and steamy ride (it literally starts off in a bath house 🔥) and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Recommended if you're a fan of:
🌶 Low angst
🌶 Enemies to lovers
🌶 Forced proximity
🌶 College roommates
🌶 HEA
4 stars
The Animosity Equation is Jeff and Mason's story (remember Jeff from book 1? Yep, it's him!) I didn't think too much of Jeff in The Friendship Equation, such a flashy, unlikeable dude but we find out about lots more about his back story here and awwww, if I didn't start to mellow and change my view on him completely.
Mason is such a cutie, a 'red neck' cowboy from a ranch in Texas, totally in the closet and doing his darndest to stay there! But he reckoned without his totally fine, totally irresistable, in your face, mouthy roommate.
This is a hot and steamy ride (it literally starts off in a bath house 🔥) and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Recommended if you're a fan of:
🌶 Low angst
🌶 Enemies to lovers
🌶 Forced proximity
🌶 College roommates
🌶 HEA
4 stars
July 25, 2022
I felt like the MCs were all over the place. It was hard to understand where they were at and where they were going. And a lot of time passed without any words. What happened in that time? Did they fight, grow as a couple, get jealous, sweet and sappy? All unknowns.
May 15, 2022
Overall: 4.25/5
Spice level: 3.5
Tropes: sports, roommates to lovers, enemies to lovers, closeted to out, secret relationship,.forced proximity
CW: mentions of parental death, drug abuse, child neglect, & conversion therapy
After reading The Friendship Equation, I was curious about Jeff's character, and we got his story!
The story is definitely spicier than I would have imagined a college freshmen aged story to be.
The title was definitely fitting and the enemies to lovers vibe was strong. I really liked both characters, though Mason more than Jeff. Jeff seemed way more antagonistic throughout much of the story, like he didn't want to get close, though he had his reasons.
I appreciated how Jeff was patient with Mason since he was still in the closet. And Mason for finally deciding to try for something more. An actual relationship.
Jeff didn't have much of a support system, but he had found family, which is more important. I enjoyed the flow of the story but some of the dialogue felt a little unnatural, almost forced.
Overall, I really got into the story and can't wait to see who's featured in The Forbidden Equation!
Spice level: 3.5
Tropes: sports, roommates to lovers, enemies to lovers, closeted to out, secret relationship,.forced proximity
CW: mentions of parental death, drug abuse, child neglect, & conversion therapy
After reading The Friendship Equation, I was curious about Jeff's character, and we got his story!
The story is definitely spicier than I would have imagined a college freshmen aged story to be.
The title was definitely fitting and the enemies to lovers vibe was strong. I really liked both characters, though Mason more than Jeff. Jeff seemed way more antagonistic throughout much of the story, like he didn't want to get close, though he had his reasons.
I appreciated how Jeff was patient with Mason since he was still in the closet. And Mason for finally deciding to try for something more. An actual relationship.
Jeff didn't have much of a support system, but he had found family, which is more important. I enjoyed the flow of the story but some of the dialogue felt a little unnatural, almost forced.
Overall, I really got into the story and can't wait to see who's featured in The Forbidden Equation!
June 26, 2022
Jeff liked to argue about the technicalities of when we started dating. He loved to argue, especially when it got me heated, and he could lure me into bed like he still needed to piss me off to get dick. Since I enjoyed a rough fuck as much as he did, I let him play his games. (p. 225)
This is how to write an enemies-to-lovers romance.
That's it. That's the whole review.
This is how to write an enemies-to-lovers romance.
That's it. That's the whole review.
May 16, 2022
I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, and The Animosity Equation did not disappoint! All the build up between Mason and Jeff made their happy ever after so much better 😍
May 16, 2022
Well, that first chapter definitely captures your attention and hooks you!! Seriously, have a fan close by.
“If I stayed a second longer, I would have let him do anything he f***ing wanted, and that was a drug too dangerous to give in to.”
This was an explosive enemies-to-lovers story. Wow, did they know how to fight! I loved the build-up, the fighting, the assumptions and misunderstandings that kept them at odds with each other. They were hot. And once they let go, dropped their walls, and actually took the time to know each other, their pasts, their dreams; they became fire outside the sheets too!
“I might have made the biggest mistake of my life by asking for more of him, but I’d savor every minute of the road to hell.”
The cameo by Harden and Vance was great, and I hope we get to see them all again in the next one. I’m really falling for all the Love Equations guys, but then JR Gray really knows how to create a world you don’t want to crawl out of.
“If I stayed a second longer, I would have let him do anything he f***ing wanted, and that was a drug too dangerous to give in to.”
This was an explosive enemies-to-lovers story. Wow, did they know how to fight! I loved the build-up, the fighting, the assumptions and misunderstandings that kept them at odds with each other. They were hot. And once they let go, dropped their walls, and actually took the time to know each other, their pasts, their dreams; they became fire outside the sheets too!
“I might have made the biggest mistake of my life by asking for more of him, but I’d savor every minute of the road to hell.”
The cameo by Harden and Vance was great, and I hope we get to see them all again in the next one. I’m really falling for all the Love Equations guys, but then JR Gray really knows how to create a world you don’t want to crawl out of.
May 25, 2022
Amazon
When Mason's new roommate turns out to be the guy he almost hooked up with, he realizes he won't be able to hide who he really is much longer. Not when Jeff is in his face, in his space, and getting under his skin. Will Mason ever come to terms with his true self, admit his feelings, and stop keeping Jeff a secret?
Jeff works his rear off to stay on his team. He isn't afraid to be his real self, but when he meets a gorgeous, closeted guy and they have an almost encounter, he can't get him out of his mind. When he turns out to be his new roommate, it's his chance to get to him. He didn't expect to fall for the guy, but he knows better than to fall for a guy who keeps him a secret, who can't admit who he really is. Do he and Mason have a chance at finding happiness together?
Oh damn but this enemies to lovers, forced proximity story is HOT! The witty jabs and all the snark was fun, the UST was nuts, and their attraction was at a boiling point every time they were in the same room together. I was cheering them on, though, knowing that all that animosity was just masking deep feelings, and that when they finally gave in, it would be explosive, and it was. Whew! The closeted Southern guy and the sharp, in your face guy made a great couple and I wish there was more coming from them. I guess I'll have to just keep reading this series hoping Mason and Jeff will make cameos in upcoming stories.
ARC provided by Candi Kane PR for an honest review.
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May 30, 2024
Voto: 3.5
RECENSIONE A CURA DI HIKARU
Jeff e Mason si conoscono prima dell’inizio del college; infatti si sono appena trasferiti entrambi e vogliono prendersi l’ultima serata di libertà prima che lo studio, il lavoro per sostenersi durante l’anno e gli allenamenti (di nuoto per Jeff e di pallanuoto per Mason) diventino l’unico pensiero che riempirà le loro giornate.
Non sanno chi è l’altro, né che frequenteranno la stessa università (e visto gli sport che praticano e per i quali hanno entrambi una borsa di studio, anche la palestra), sanno solo tre cose:
1. Che quello è l’ultimo momento di libertà;
2. Che l’altro è il ragazzo più bello che abbiano mai visto;
3. Che decisamente vogliono conoscersi (in modo biblico, se non fosse abbastanza chiaro).
Tutto procede per il meglio… fino a che Mason non scappa letteralmente a gambe levate e Jeff non riesce a smettere di pensare a quel ben di Dio che prometteva faville.
Quindi immaginatevi le loro espressioni quando si rendono conto che, volenti e nolenti, saranno costretti a vedersi ben più di qualche volta, considerando che condividono la palestra di allenamento…
Mason crede di poter gestire l’attrazione che ha per Jeff mentendo a sé stesso. Jeff, d’altro canto, a ogni rifiuto (sempre più labile) dell’altro, non riesce a smettere di punzecchiarlo perché vuole vedere quella luce che illumina lo sguardo di Mason quando lo esaspera, un incrocio tra la rabbia che lo porterebbe a strozzarlo e quella che lo porterebbe a fare ben altro.
Poi iniziano le lezioni e finalmente vengono assegnate le stanze ai dormitori e… Vado avanti o mi fermo?
Continua sul nostro blog!
RECENSIONE A CURA DI HIKARU
Jeff e Mason si conoscono prima dell’inizio del college; infatti si sono appena trasferiti entrambi e vogliono prendersi l’ultima serata di libertà prima che lo studio, il lavoro per sostenersi durante l’anno e gli allenamenti (di nuoto per Jeff e di pallanuoto per Mason) diventino l’unico pensiero che riempirà le loro giornate.
Non sanno chi è l’altro, né che frequenteranno la stessa università (e visto gli sport che praticano e per i quali hanno entrambi una borsa di studio, anche la palestra), sanno solo tre cose:
1. Che quello è l’ultimo momento di libertà;
2. Che l’altro è il ragazzo più bello che abbiano mai visto;
3. Che decisamente vogliono conoscersi (in modo biblico, se non fosse abbastanza chiaro).
Tutto procede per il meglio… fino a che Mason non scappa letteralmente a gambe levate e Jeff non riesce a smettere di pensare a quel ben di Dio che prometteva faville.
Quindi immaginatevi le loro espressioni quando si rendono conto che, volenti e nolenti, saranno costretti a vedersi ben più di qualche volta, considerando che condividono la palestra di allenamento…
Mason crede di poter gestire l’attrazione che ha per Jeff mentendo a sé stesso. Jeff, d’altro canto, a ogni rifiuto (sempre più labile) dell’altro, non riesce a smettere di punzecchiarlo perché vuole vedere quella luce che illumina lo sguardo di Mason quando lo esaspera, un incrocio tra la rabbia che lo porterebbe a strozzarlo e quella che lo porterebbe a fare ben altro.
Poi iniziano le lezioni e finalmente vengono assegnate le stanze ai dormitori e… Vado avanti o mi fermo?
Continua sul nostro blog!
May 18, 2022
I love me some enemies to lovers and this title says it all. I read The Friendship Equation back in August 2021 so it took me until partway through this book for me to realize that Jeff was the asshole competitive swimmer in book 1. Turns out there's a lot more to Jeff than meets the eye. He uses words as a weapon and rarely lets his mask slip. He has his reasons for why he is the way he is and honestly I don't blame him. Life hasn't been the kindest to Jeff so far, but all that changes with Mason.
Mason is the quintessential closeted southern rancher. He plans to spend his life that way, until he meets a snarky swimmer named Jeff his freshman year of college. Something about Jeff just gets under Mason's skin. There's plenty of back and forth sniping at one another and the UST was off the charts. I couldn't wait until the two finally gave in because I knew they'd be explosive. I was right.
This book has lots of steam and I would say medium to lower angst. I loved Mason's cousin and I really hope he gets his own book. He was certainly a character. The ending was absolutely adorable. The next book is The Forbidden Equation and features Harden's brother whom we met in book 1. I can't wait to see what he gets up to based on the blurb. He's going to shake things up for sure.
3.5 stars
Mason is the quintessential closeted southern rancher. He plans to spend his life that way, until he meets a snarky swimmer named Jeff his freshman year of college. Something about Jeff just gets under Mason's skin. There's plenty of back and forth sniping at one another and the UST was off the charts. I couldn't wait until the two finally gave in because I knew they'd be explosive. I was right.
This book has lots of steam and I would say medium to lower angst. I loved Mason's cousin and I really hope he gets his own book. He was certainly a character. The ending was absolutely adorable. The next book is The Forbidden Equation and features Harden's brother whom we met in book 1. I can't wait to see what he gets up to based on the blurb. He's going to shake things up for sure.
3.5 stars
Read
August 8, 2022DNF @30%
July 31, 2022
Great characters and I loved how the story plays out. Two boys on scholarship at Stanford meet and hate each other. They have a steamy awkward moment and the slowly begin to tolerate each other. There is obvious chemistry and slowly they actually cone to an agreement. What slowly happens becomes a lovely respect and a friendship they both need. Its a steady build how their relationship evolves. Very likeable characters and you quickly become invested in them. It just felt a bit rushed when they finally decide to make it a thing. Do love that we got an HFN and a couple epilogues.
August 29, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
The story was your average, cute ETL romance. I loved Olivia, Noah, and Gran.
The beginning of how they met was a little odd and circumstantial for the story but they had good tension. They also had cute moments of being worried about where they stood with one another.
It’s wasn’t the greatest romance story out there but it had its moments!
The story was your average, cute ETL romance. I loved Olivia, Noah, and Gran.
The beginning of how they met was a little odd and circumstantial for the story but they had good tension. They also had cute moments of being worried about where they stood with one another.
It’s wasn’t the greatest romance story out there but it had its moments!
February 8, 2023
So happy to be back in the Love Equations world. And with an Enemies to Lovers story (my absolute favorite trope!) Loved all of the build up between Mason & Jeff. So very hot. And so misunderstood. But once they made their intentions and pasts clear to each other, nothing could stand in their way. Also, loved getting spend more time with Harden & Vance (from Friendship Equestion) as well.
June 28, 2022
I am a big fan of J.R. Gray, I want to say that up front. He can really create rich universes and does an amazing job creating characters who are really going through it. Lots of mental health and addiction rep.
So I was so disappointed in this book even more so because of my high expectations. It took me a really long time to get into this. A really, really long time.
Jeff and Mason meet at a gay spa and start hooking up. But when Mason flees in the middle, they both think they'll never see each other again. But it turns out they are both on aquatic sports teams at the same university and are going to be running into each other a lot. Mason has four years of school before he has to go back to his family's ranch in Texas, where responsibility and a closeted life wait for him. Jeff was raised in the foster system and doesn't know how to open up to people. When they meet again face to face, they still have intense sexual attraction to each other ... but they end up hating each other. (I have more to say on this later.)
Jeff was actually a super dynamic character in the first book of this series, in which he was an agent of chaos a bit -- starting shit and being charming and competitive. I feel like all that promise wasn't kept here. Jeff is closed off, even when given the safety and consistency to be more vulnerable. I understand that childhood trauma is a thing (and he really did get the shortest end of the stick when it comes to his life -- his siblings all have lovely stable homes and he's treated like a virtual stranger after sacrificing so much for them. It's awful, and there is no satisfying resolution here. His siblings are never told to stop being callously ignorant to Jeff's efforts and isolation. They just get to be cruel to him, even it's unintentional. Ignorance is no excuse.) Still, it was frustrating, especially when he is called out on it but reacts defensively instead of reflecting on it.
Jeff also sucks. Not in an interesting, Loki-esque way. But in an awful, mean, manipulative way. When he and Mason meet, Jeff knows right away that he is not out and not ready to be out. Jeff, instead of either backing off or respecting Mason's personal journey, pushes him and snipes and him and manipulates his feelings. He also outs Mason to his friend. Yes, the friend is bi and isn't going to out Mason to anyone else. But he still does it. And when Mason calls him out on it, he straight up LIES. I just can't with story lines like this. If you don't want to deal with someone in the closet, don't.
That leads me to this: they end up hating each other for some reason. Mason says he HATES Jeff. Like gets rageful. So he starts playing his own head games. This causes Jeff to hate him back. It still doesn't make sense to me. They still want to jump each other's bones, though, but the hate doesn't quite make it to "oooo sexy sexual animosity" for me. It mostly feels like Jeff goads Mason into getting boners in public places and then flits off with a laugh.
When the pair end up roommates, it gets weirder. Even when more emotional intimacy opens between them -- or the opportunity to be more intimate, they both fumble it so hard. When they start hooking up on the regular, Jeff accuses Mason of keeping him a secret and just using him for sex. But then Mason comes back with, "well you don't ask me anything about myself and you always argue with me so I'll fuck you." Jeff doesn't take it the way I felt it was meant, in that, Mason feels like Jeff rejects anything but sex (which is TRUE, by the way. Jeff won't open up to him.)
Mason has this big weight of responsibility waiting for him. He feels 100% obligated to take over his family's ranch, even though they don't respect his want to go to school and get a business degree. They are completely unsupportive. Mason is afraid of them knowing he is gay. At the end, when they actually find out, it is resolved in three seconds. And, URGH, no one acknowledges that Mason was COMPLETELY justified in feeling sad, alone and scared about coming out. In fact, his family kind of blame him for not doing so. It comes across as gaslight-y.
As for the romance, it failed for me. Mason is a big softie at heart and he tries to be better. Jeff kinda does, too, but them switching from hate-fucking to boyfriends felt completely unearned. It didn't feel satisfying, just abrupt.
The plot was also thin on the ground. We don't even find out how the Olympic trials went for Jeff.
Overall, super disappointed. This made for a tough read and honestly has derailed my reading streak.
| I received an ARC, and this is my honest, freely given review. |
So I was so disappointed in this book even more so because of my high expectations. It took me a really long time to get into this. A really, really long time.
Jeff and Mason meet at a gay spa and start hooking up. But when Mason flees in the middle, they both think they'll never see each other again. But it turns out they are both on aquatic sports teams at the same university and are going to be running into each other a lot. Mason has four years of school before he has to go back to his family's ranch in Texas, where responsibility and a closeted life wait for him. Jeff was raised in the foster system and doesn't know how to open up to people. When they meet again face to face, they still have intense sexual attraction to each other ... but they end up hating each other. (I have more to say on this later.)
Jeff was actually a super dynamic character in the first book of this series, in which he was an agent of chaos a bit -- starting shit and being charming and competitive. I feel like all that promise wasn't kept here. Jeff is closed off, even when given the safety and consistency to be more vulnerable. I understand that childhood trauma is a thing (and he really did get the shortest end of the stick when it comes to his life -- his siblings all have lovely stable homes and he's treated like a virtual stranger after sacrificing so much for them. It's awful, and there is no satisfying resolution here. His siblings are never told to stop being callously ignorant to Jeff's efforts and isolation. They just get to be cruel to him, even it's unintentional. Ignorance is no excuse.) Still, it was frustrating, especially when he is called out on it but reacts defensively instead of reflecting on it.
Jeff also sucks. Not in an interesting, Loki-esque way. But in an awful, mean, manipulative way. When he and Mason meet, Jeff knows right away that he is not out and not ready to be out. Jeff, instead of either backing off or respecting Mason's personal journey, pushes him and snipes and him and manipulates his feelings. He also outs Mason to his friend. Yes, the friend is bi and isn't going to out Mason to anyone else. But he still does it. And when Mason calls him out on it, he straight up LIES. I just can't with story lines like this. If you don't want to deal with someone in the closet, don't.
That leads me to this: they end up hating each other for some reason. Mason says he HATES Jeff. Like gets rageful. So he starts playing his own head games. This causes Jeff to hate him back. It still doesn't make sense to me. They still want to jump each other's bones, though, but the hate doesn't quite make it to "oooo sexy sexual animosity" for me. It mostly feels like Jeff goads Mason into getting boners in public places and then flits off with a laugh.
When the pair end up roommates, it gets weirder. Even when more emotional intimacy opens between them -- or the opportunity to be more intimate, they both fumble it so hard. When they start hooking up on the regular, Jeff accuses Mason of keeping him a secret and just using him for sex. But then Mason comes back with, "well you don't ask me anything about myself and you always argue with me so I'll fuck you." Jeff doesn't take it the way I felt it was meant, in that, Mason feels like Jeff rejects anything but sex (which is TRUE, by the way. Jeff won't open up to him.)
Mason has this big weight of responsibility waiting for him. He feels 100% obligated to take over his family's ranch, even though they don't respect his want to go to school and get a business degree. They are completely unsupportive. Mason is afraid of them knowing he is gay. At the end, when they actually find out, it is resolved in three seconds. And, URGH, no one acknowledges that Mason was COMPLETELY justified in feeling sad, alone and scared about coming out. In fact, his family kind of blame him for not doing so. It comes across as gaslight-y.
As for the romance, it failed for me. Mason is a big softie at heart and he tries to be better. Jeff kinda does, too, but them switching from hate-fucking to boyfriends felt completely unearned. It didn't feel satisfying, just abrupt.
The plot was also thin on the ground. We don't even find out how the Olympic trials went for Jeff.
Overall, super disappointed. This made for a tough read and honestly has derailed my reading streak.
| I received an ARC, and this is my honest, freely given review. |
May 26, 2022
This fell somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me. It's a college-athlete, sort of enemies-to-lovers romance (though the MCs do different sports). The second half was more enjoyable than the first, for sure. At the start, these characters like hate each other for no real reason, the 'animosity' just felt super manufactured and forced. But once they have a change of the heart the book definitely improves. This author has a very particular way of writing that you need a while to get into the rhythm of. Characters have these very long internal monologues that often repeat in a kind of loop. Chapters end in strange places, the pacing feels odd. But once I got over all of that I found the banter funny and it was actually really sweet towards the end.
May 16, 2022
An explosive enemies-to-lovers story! And, they knew just how to fight with their playful and snarky banter! The constant bickering, arguing, f**king, and miscommunications were the build up that continued their animosity with perfection.
“𝕀 𝕕𝕠 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕡𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕠𝕗𝕗 𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕗𝕦𝕔𝕜 𝕞𝕖.”
Once Mason and Jeff finally decided to let go of their past and present hang ups, their chemistry was a frenzied storm! Not to mention their connection grew overtime into an unbreakable bond that they both were in dire need of obtaining.
“𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕?”
I absolutely loved the snide remarks and total honesty of Mason’s family, specifically Grans. The bittersweet time with her was amusing and entertaining, never knowing what was going to come out of her mouth.
“𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕖 𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕣𝕟 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕦𝕟𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕤 ‘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖,”
JR single-handedly hit the nail on the head with a southern family’s demeanor as a whole! Not sure why’d I expect anything less!
“𝕀 𝕕𝕠 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕡𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕠𝕗𝕗 𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕗𝕦𝕔𝕜 𝕞𝕖.”
Once Mason and Jeff finally decided to let go of their past and present hang ups, their chemistry was a frenzied storm! Not to mention their connection grew overtime into an unbreakable bond that they both were in dire need of obtaining.
“𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕?”
I absolutely loved the snide remarks and total honesty of Mason’s family, specifically Grans. The bittersweet time with her was amusing and entertaining, never knowing what was going to come out of her mouth.
“𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕖 𝕤𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕣𝕟 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕦𝕟𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕕 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕤 ‘𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖,”
JR single-handedly hit the nail on the head with a southern family’s demeanor as a whole! Not sure why’d I expect anything less!
May 19, 2022
“We didn’t meet gently, we met like a storm breaking into the shore. A downpour of need, raining out any good sense.”
I received an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review. JR Gray is a new-to-me author, but I’m prepared to read his entire backlist after this! A spicy, enemies to lovers, sports romance, The Animosity Equation did not come to play, which is something you’ll figure out as you’re sucked in from the very first chapter.
I love Jeff + Mason so much. Mason pulled my freakin’ heartstrings and not because he’s a sexy Texan cowboy with southern charm, but because he ultimately had tough on the outside gooey on the inside vibes. Jeff was a cocky lil thing at first, but the more I got to know him, the more he wormed his way into my little black heart. They’ll both take permanent residence there.
In true to me fashion, I’ll always comment on likeable side characters, so I’ll end this with a little nod to my gal, Jeff’s R-O-D, Olivia. I highkey would love to see a book for her. She’s such a supportive friend to Jeff and ultimately Mason, and I feel like she definitely deserves her own happy ending.
I received an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review. JR Gray is a new-to-me author, but I’m prepared to read his entire backlist after this! A spicy, enemies to lovers, sports romance, The Animosity Equation did not come to play, which is something you’ll figure out as you’re sucked in from the very first chapter.
I love Jeff + Mason so much. Mason pulled my freakin’ heartstrings and not because he’s a sexy Texan cowboy with southern charm, but because he ultimately had tough on the outside gooey on the inside vibes. Jeff was a cocky lil thing at first, but the more I got to know him, the more he wormed his way into my little black heart. They’ll both take permanent residence there.
In true to me fashion, I’ll always comment on likeable side characters, so I’ll end this with a little nod to my gal, Jeff’s R-O-D, Olivia. I highkey would love to see a book for her. She’s such a supportive friend to Jeff and ultimately Mason, and I feel like she definitely deserves her own happy ending.
May 19, 2022
I have been enjoying college romance lately, so when I read the blurb, and it's an enemies to lovers, roommates, I got impulsive, and I signed for the arc. It took me some time to warm up for both of them and get into reading it. I appreciate that it wasn't insta love, and their animosity was up to 50% of the book when both started to open up and let their walls down. I loved the push, and the pull they had and how reluctant they were to fall to each other despised their hostility toward each other.
This book can definitely be read as a standalone, but I need to give book one a reread as it seems I can't remember anything about it😅.
Another thing that took me by surprise was how Mason's family was accepting of him. Because the way I saw it from his POV they seemed homophobic, and I was ready for angst, which was a pleasant surprise. and of course, you get HEA ❤️.
This book can definitely be read as a standalone, but I need to give book one a reread as it seems I can't remember anything about it😅.
Another thing that took me by surprise was how Mason's family was accepting of him. Because the way I saw it from his POV they seemed homophobic, and I was ready for angst, which was a pleasant surprise. and of course, you get HEA ❤️.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2025
2.5⭐️
This bummed me out so hard. After reading the blurb I thought I’d be sooo into this and even the first scene I was still convinced of that. Sadly, it was not long after starting that I realized both MCs are kind of just straight up dicks and I just didnt care if they got together or not. Truly didn’t feel invested whatsoever - not to mention that they just didn’t make any sense as a couple anyways. So bummed after being surprised by how much I liked the first book to find that the second one (the one I started this series for) was a huge let down. Yeah probs continue to the 3rd in the series. The spice was somewhat fun so that’s what saved the rating tbh
This bummed me out so hard. After reading the blurb I thought I’d be sooo into this and even the first scene I was still convinced of that. Sadly, it was not long after starting that I realized both MCs are kind of just straight up dicks and I just didnt care if they got together or not. Truly didn’t feel invested whatsoever - not to mention that they just didn’t make any sense as a couple anyways. So bummed after being surprised by how much I liked the first book to find that the second one (the one I started this series for) was a huge let down. Yeah probs continue to the 3rd in the series. The spice was somewhat fun so that’s what saved the rating tbh
May 26, 2022
The Animosity Equation is a college romance, enemies to lovers with so much freakin steam my kindle fogged up! I seriously adored this story, Jeff and Mason were so much fun to read! The tension and chemistry that rolled off the pages made it so that I couldn’t get enough of this story! Overall, a really fantastic story!! The story is really well written story, the pacing flowed beautifully, highly recommend.
May 16, 2022
An almost hook-up leads to a tension fueled connection in this MM sports romance between two college athletes that can't seem to stay apart.
Mason has his future mapped out. Go to college and then head back home to take over the family ranch. He will not let a sexy swimmer force him from his sole focus. The only problem is, no matter how hard he tries to resist the temptation...he just can't.
Jeff is out and proud. He is also a dedicated swimmer doing his best to create a better life and opportunity. However, he is not opposed to a little fun along the way. Mason is a challenge, but he's up for the task.
Not sure that they were enemies, as much as Mason being reluctant to take a gamble. The tension is sexy and when they finally do give in...it's worth the wait. This is hot and sweet romance between two sexy athletes who have big dreams. Mason is on his own journey of acceptance and Jeff is battling ghosts from his childhood that weigh him down. Together they will find a way to chase their dreams and live their truth.
I loved this couple and their path. A fun read with feels and a whole lot of sexy times. There were enough obstacles to overcome to keep you invested, but not so much that you'll be overwhelmed with angst. Mason was a total sweetheart and really brought the romance. Jeff's past broke my heart at times, but I admired his resilience and his dedication to his siblings. He had a big heart. It was impossible not to love them.
Mason has his future mapped out. Go to college and then head back home to take over the family ranch. He will not let a sexy swimmer force him from his sole focus. The only problem is, no matter how hard he tries to resist the temptation...he just can't.
Jeff is out and proud. He is also a dedicated swimmer doing his best to create a better life and opportunity. However, he is not opposed to a little fun along the way. Mason is a challenge, but he's up for the task.
Not sure that they were enemies, as much as Mason being reluctant to take a gamble. The tension is sexy and when they finally do give in...it's worth the wait. This is hot and sweet romance between two sexy athletes who have big dreams. Mason is on his own journey of acceptance and Jeff is battling ghosts from his childhood that weigh him down. Together they will find a way to chase their dreams and live their truth.
I loved this couple and their path. A fun read with feels and a whole lot of sexy times. There were enough obstacles to overcome to keep you invested, but not so much that you'll be overwhelmed with angst. Mason was a total sweetheart and really brought the romance. Jeff's past broke my heart at times, but I admired his resilience and his dedication to his siblings. He had a big heart. It was impossible not to love them.
May 17, 2022
From the jump this book is super steamy and the steam carries throughout the story. Their relationship is filled with tense encounters only made worse (or better) by their close proximity. When they finally give in, it’s hot! They had their sweet moments too, especially when their walls came down and they talked about their childhoods. Great seeing Harden and Vance again.
June 10, 2022
Surprising depth for
a NA, athlete, hate-fuck,
guilty pleasure read.
a NA, athlete, hate-fuck,
guilty pleasure read.
August 11, 2022
This was definitely fun. College, Mm, sort of enemies, roommates.
May 22, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up
Full review:
https://www.mmromancereviewed.com/202...
Full review:
https://www.mmromancereviewed.com/202...
September 2, 2024
Enemies to Lovers - College Roommates
I was intrigued with Jeff Woods from the previous book which made me jump into this one. I just knew he had a story there.
I preferred the first book to this one. Mason took too long to sort his shit out!!
I haven't felt the need to jump into the 3rd book of this series - I may come back to it in the future.
I was intrigued with Jeff Woods from the previous book which made me jump into this one. I just knew he had a story there.
I preferred the first book to this one. Mason took too long to sort his shit out!!
I haven't felt the need to jump into the 3rd book of this series - I may come back to it in the future.
May 23, 2022
A really good enemies to lovers mm romance, Jeff and Mason clash from the very beginning and sparks certainly fly. This is a fairly low angst story with a lot of heart, these boys are mixed up but adorable. Both characters have depth and that it something that always featured in JR Gray book.
A very enjoyable read.
A very enjoyable read.
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